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SLAR leaders Peñarol will be out for revenge on Wednesday. The Uruguayan side play host to the Olímpia Lions, a team that handed them their only loss thus far in SLAR 2022. With the Olímpia Lions sitting just three points above Los Cafeteros Pro, the Paraguayans are in need of another upset win so as to avoid a potential fall out of the play-off’s zone.
Peñarol have a line-up with no shortage of test match players. Juan Echeverría, Guillermo Pujadas, and Ignacio Pecúlo provide a front-row that could very well start a Rugby World Cup match. Eric dosantos starts again out of position in the second-row. He will be partnered by Nahuel Milán who is the only foreigner in Peñarol’s run-on team.
The team also conains seasoned veterans. Santiago Civetta starts at flanker, Rodrigo Silva on the wing and Andrés Vilaseca captains the side from inside center. Developing names including Baltazar Amaya, Felipe Arcos Pérez and José María Irulegy are looking to join them on the roster for next year’s World Cup.
Uncapped players Carlos Deus, and Juan Taffernaberry earn starts at N8 and scrum-half respectively. Deus is back after having been rested last Friday. Taffernaberry will earn his first start for Peñarol, doing so with Tomás Inciarte named on the bench to cover the mid-field.
The Olímpia Lions have a familiar side; one with mainly Argentines but starts for Paraguayans too. Daniel Cabral has proven to be excellent for the Olímpia Lions at loose head all season. He will be joined by newcomer Juan Ignacio Sánchez in the front-row while Luís Enrique Quinteros is back to start at tight head.
Mariano Garcete and Sebastián Urbieta are additional Paraguayans who are regulars in the team. They start in the second-row and at fly half respectively. Of the Argentines two names of note are Julián Quetglas at fullback and Mariano Romanini at N8. Both have come along way this season for the Olímpia Lions. They will play under the leadership of Ignacio Inchauspe who captains the team from scrum-half.
Peñarol have a 2-1 record against the Olímpia Lions. The in-form Uruguayans are favored to make it 3-1. Not only is Peñarol leading SLAR 2022, but the team is now favored to go all the way and win the South American league title this season.
TEAMS
PEÑAROL
1 Juan Echeverría, 2 Guillermo Pujadas, 3 Ignacio Pecúlo, 4 Eric dosantos, 5 Nahuel Milán, 6 Lucas Bianchi, 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Carlos Deus, 9 Juan Tafernaberry, 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Baltazar Amaya, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Felipe Arcos Pérez, 14 Rodrigo Silva, 15 José María Iruleguy
Replacements: 16 Emiliano Faccennini, 17 Matías Benítez, 18 Diego Arbelo, 19 Diego Magno, 20 Manuel Ardao 21 Santiago Álvarez, 22 Nicolás Roger, 13 Tomás Inciarte
OLÍMPIA LIONS
1 Daniel Cabral, 2 Juan Ignacio Sánchez, 3 Luís Enrique Quinteros, 4 Álvaro Biscay, 5 Mariano Garcete, 6 Federico Simondi, 7 Ariel Nuñez, 8 Mariano Romanini, 9 Ignacio Inchauspe (capt.), 10 Sebastián Urbieta, 11 Ignacio González Sarubbi, 12 Ramiro Amarilla, 13 Francisco Díez, 14 Juan González, 15 Julián Quetglas
Replacements: 16 Emilio Gorostiaga, 17 Manuel Stuchetti, 18 Estéfano Aranda, 19 Agustín Toth, 20 Lautaro Britez, 21 Facundo Villalba, 22 Gianfranco Parodi, 23 Nicolás Hogg
Date: Wednesday, May 04
Venue: Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo
Kickoff: 6:00pm (Montevideo); 5:00pm (Asunción)
Referee: Nehuen Jauri Rivero (Argentina)
Assistant Referees: Cauã Ricardo (Brazil); Simón Larrubia (Argentina)
TMO: Alejandro Longres (Uruguay)
Broadcast: ESPN America Latina, ESPN Brasil, Star +
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-03-27 – Olímpia Lions 15, Peñarol 13 (Héroes de Curupayty, Asunción, Paraguay)
2021-04-11 – Peñarol 29, Olímpia Lions 10 (Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo, Uruguay)
2021-03-16 – Olímpia Lions 11, Peñarol 40 (Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile)
